Broadway News Wrap Up – 10.15.18

Rumors Suggest Funny Girl Revival with Lady Gaga

Appearing on YouTube personality Randy Rainbow’s cross-country comedy tour, Rosie O’Donnell hinted that a Broadway revival of Funny Girl is in development, starring Lady Gaga as Fanny Brice and featuring O’Donnell as Fanny’s mom. With music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Bob Merrill and book by Isobel Lennart, Funny Girl was a Broadway smash which skyrocketed Barbra Streisand to stardom. Streisand originated the role on Broadway and then went on to star in the film version, which earned her an Academy Award. The news comes as Gaga’s performance in the recent remake of A Star is Born helped earn the film over $42 million at the weekend box office and cement her status as the Best Actress frontrunner at this year’s Academy Awards. This would be the second role assumed by Gaga previously played by Stresiand, who starred in the 1976 film version of A Star is Born. More details here.

Jagged Little Pill Musical in Development

Jagged Little Pill is holding a developmental lab this winter, following its world premiere at Boston’s American Repertory Theater this past summer. There is no news of a Broadway transfer at this time, but the team is working to develop the show further. The lab includes the same creative team as the show’s world premiere run, including Tony-winning director Diane Paulus (Pippin, Hair). Jagged Little Pill is inspired by Alanis Morissette‘s groundbreaking, Grammy Award-winning album and features a book by Diablo Cody. The jukebox musical tells an original story about pain, healing, and empowerment: The Healys appear to be a picture-perfect suburban family-but looks can be deceiving. When the Healys’ lives are disrupted by a series of disturbing events, they must choose between maintaining the status quo or facing harsh truths about themselves, their community, and the world around them. Including iconic songs “Ironic,” “You Oughta Know,” and “Hand In My Pocket,” Jagged Little Pill incorporates selections from Morissette’s catalogue and new material written for the musical. More details here.

Anthony Ramos, who originated the roles of John Laurens and Philip Hamilton in the original Broadway cast of Hamilton and was recently featured in the current film remake of A Star Is Born, is in talks to lead the upcoming film adaptation of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Best Musical Tony-winner In the Heights. Earlier this year, Ramos took on the role of Usnavi (originated by Miranda) for the Kennedy Center’s Broadway Center Stage series; he would presumably reprise his performance on screen. His additional credits include Miranda’s musical short 21 Chump Street, Netflix’s She’s Gotta Have It, and the recent revival of Will & Grace. The film is scheduled to premiere June 26, 2020. The musical offers a slice-of-life chronicle of an array of characters living in Washington Heights, mostly told through the lens of bodega owner Usnavi, who emigrated from the Dominican Republic at a young age. More details here.